Method and apparatus for wringing excess liquid from steel strip

ABSTRACT

WRINGING APPARATUS INCLUDING TWO PAIRS OF WRINGER ROLLS, ONE OF EACH PAIR BEING SECURED TO A FRAMEWORK, THE OTHER OF EACH PAIR BEING SECURED TO ROCKER ASSEMBLY WHICH IS PIVOTED TO THE FRAMEWORK AND SWINGABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH ONE PAIR OF WRINGER ROLLS IS CLOSED AND THE OTHER IS OPEN, AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE OTHER PAIR OF WRINGER ROLLS IS CLOSED AND THE FIRST PAIR IS OPEN. EACH WRINGER ROLL IS MOUNTED ON A ROLL FRAME WHICH IS EASILY DE-MOUNTED FROM THE FRAMEWORK FOR ROLL REPLACEMENT WHEN THE PAIR TO WHICH IT BELONGS IS OPEN. THE PAIRS OF WRINGER ROLLS ARE CLOSED ALTERNATELY ON MOVING STEEP STRIP EMERGING FROM A LIQUID BATH, EACH PAIR REMAINING CLOSED UNTIL ITS ROLLS BEGIN TO WEAR.

June 27, 1972 H. HERMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRINGING EXCESS LIQUID FROM STEEL STRIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1971 LNWLN'TUR: H NS HERMAN June 27, 1972 H. HERMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRINGING EXCESS LIQUID FROM STEEL STRIP 2 Shee ts Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1971 United States Patent 3,672,946 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRINGING EXCESS LIQUID FROM STEEL STRIP Hans Herman, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, assignor to The Steel Company of Canada, Limited, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Filed Mar. 18, 1971, Ser. No. 125,555 Int. Cl. Bc 11/02 U.S. C]. 117-102 L ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Wringing apparatus including two pairs of wringer rolls, one of each pair being secured to a framework, the other of each pair being secured to rocker assembly which is pivoted to the framework and swingable between a first position in which one pair of wringer rolls is closed and the other is open, and a second position in which the other pair of wringer rolls is closed and the first pair is open. Each wringer roll is mounted on a roll frame which is easily de-mounted from the framework for roll replacement when the pair to which it belongs is open. The pairs of wringer rolls are closed alternately on moving steep strip emerging from a liquid bath, each pair remaining closed until its rolls begin to wear.

11 Claims This invention relates generally to strip processing lines of the kind utilized in steel-making plants, and has to do particularly with processing lines in which the steel strip is at some point passed through a liquid bath. Upon emergence from a liquid bath, the steel strip retains on its surface a layer of the liquid which it is desirable to remove or to spread more evenly. Conventionally, strip processing lines employ a wringer roll arrangement in which the strip is passed between the nip of one or more pairs of freely rotating rubber rolls.

'DRAWBACKS OF THE CONVENTIONAL METHOD AND APPARATUS Most conventional apparatus intended to distribute excess liquid over the surface of moving strip involves two horizontal parallel wringer rolls of which at least one is vertically displaceable. Because the wringer rolls are made of a resilient rubber material, continuous use over a certain period of time causes the roll surface to wear over that portion of its length which contacts the steel strip. The result is the gradual appearance of a very thin annular ledge at the extremities of the portion of the roll which contacts the steel strip. When these fine ledges appear, the ability of the wringer roll to spread excess liquid decreases, and a point is reached where a new wringer roll must be inserted in place of the old. In conventional apparatuses, this is accomplished by shutting down the processing line, replacing the worn-out roll or rolls, and starting up the processing line again. If it is necessary to displace one of the rolls vertically in order to replace it, this is of course done.

In order to avoid the necessity of line stoppage, some conventional installations involve several pairs of rolls in series, so that a worn pair can be separated from the strip and another pair brought into service without stopping the line. This sequence continues until the last pair of rolls has been worn at which time the line must be stopped and all rolls replaced. A disadvantage of this latter arrangement, however, is that the last pair of rolls is usually too far from the point where the strip emerges from the liquid bath, and there is a danger that the coating will be partially dry before the last pair of wringer rolls comes into contact with the strip, thus causing spotty distribution.

Patented June 27, 1972 A further disadvantage is that the rubber roll surfaces are often scratched during installation in the line, and have to be removed again for regrinding.

OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION One object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for distributing liquid over strip surface which utilizes rubber rolls, but which does not require the processing line to be shut down at any time for the replacement of worn rolls.

Another object of this invention is to minimize or eliminate the danger of marking a roll during the installation of a new roll to replace a worn one.

Yet another object of this invention is to reduce the distance between the point at which the strip emerges from the liquid bath and the location at which the wringing of the strip takes place, in order to assure a proper even coating.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for wringing steel strip which is economical to manufacture and simple to construct.

A final object of this invention is to so simplify the construction of an apparatus for wringing liquid from strip that a reduction in the required maintenance is possible.

Essentially, the above objects are achieved by the provision of a wringing apparatus involving two pairs of wringer rolls, one of each pair being secured to a framework, while the other of each pair is secured to a rocker assembly which is pivoted to the framework, and which is swingable between a first position in which one pair of wringer rolls is closed and the other is open, and a second position in which the other pair of wringer rolls is closed and the first pair is open. The continuous strip is passed between both pairs of wringer rolls. The first pair is closed to grip the strip and is maintained closed until wear of the rolls becomes noticeable, at which point the rocker assembly is swung to the other position so that the other pair of rolls grips the moving strip. The rocker assembly is maintained in its latter position while the first pair of wringer rolls is replaced. This process is continued with first one then the other pair of wringer rolls operating against the steel strip.

More specifically, this invention provides a wringer roll apparatus for a strip processing line, comprising: a supporting framework, a first and a second wringer roll removably secured to said supporting framework in substantially parallel, spaced relation, the first and second rolls being mounted for free rotation about axes which are substantially in the same horizontal plane, a rocker assembly mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the supporting framework about a rocker axis parallel with the said axes, and having removably secured thereto a third and a fourth wringer roll, the rocker assembly being swingable between a first position in which the first and third wringer rolls are in line contact and the second and fourth wringer rolls are spaced apart, and a second position in which the second and fourth wringer rolls are in line contact and the first and third wringer rolls are spaced apart, and means for swinging the rocker assembly between the first and second positions.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly broken-away perspective view of a wringer apparatus for steel strip; and

FIG. 2 is a partly broken-away elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 and a portion of the processing line which utilizes the apparatus of FIG. 1.

3 PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows generally a wringer roll apparatus which essentially includes a supporting framework 12 adapted to support a first and a second wringer roll, and a rocker assembly 17 adapted to support a third and fourth wringer roll.

Referring specifically now to the supporting framework 12, this will be seen to be substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having two I-beam base members 22, four upstanding corner members 24, two end members 26 and 27, and two longitudinal members 28.

Downwardly depending from each longitudinal member 28 are two brackets 30 (only three visible in FIG. 1). The pair of brackets 30 depending from longitudinal member 28 supports a horizontal rail 32 of hollow, substantially rectangular section, while the brackets 30 depending from longitudinal member 29 support a similar horizontal rail 34, also of hollow, substantially rectangular section.

Depending downwardly from the centre of each end member 26 and 27 is a vertical arm 35 which is securely attached to its respective end member. Each vertical arm 35 has, at its lower end, a bearing housing 38 (only one visible in FIG. 1). As shown, the two bearing housings 38 support two parallel horizontal rails 39 and 40 which are substantially identical to the horizontal rails 32 and 34, and thus have a hollow, substantially rectangular cross-section.

Throughout the remainder of this specification the term first of rails will denote rails 32 and 39, and the term second pair of rails will denote rails 34 and 40. In the claims these terms are interchangeable.

Extending between the bearing housings 38, and journalled therewithin for free rotation, is an axle 42. The rocker assembly 17 is rigidly secured to the axle 42, and thus is adapted to swing or pivot about the axis of the axle 42.

Referring more specifically to the rocker assembly 17, it will be seen to include two inverted T-members 44 and 45, each having a lower cross-member 46 and an upwardly projecting stem-member 48 securely attached to its respective cross-member 46. The axle 42 passes through the two stem-members 48 at about their midpoints, and is securely attached thereto.

The lower cross-members 46 support four horizontal rails 50, 51, 52 and 53, which extend perpendicularly between the lower cross-members 46. Throughout the remainder of this specification, the term third pair of rails will denote rails 50 and 51, while the term fourth pair of rails will denote rails 52 and 53. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the inner rails 51 and 52 are positioned immediately adjacent the lower ends of the stem-members 48. Attached to the outer wall of the outer rails 50 and 53 are two bars 55 which project a short distance above the top surface of the rails 50 and 53, and which serve a function shortly to be defined.

Mounted above the two end members 26 and 27 of the supporting framework 12 are two cylinder-and-piston combinations 57, each including a cylinder 58, an extensible and rectractable rod 59, a cylinder clevis and a rod clevis 61. As seen in FIG. 1, the rod clevises 61 are attached by pins 63 to the upper ends of the stemmembers 48, while the cylinder clevises 60 are attached by pins 65 to two upstanding members 66 which are securely attached to extensions of the two end members 26 and 27. Actuation of the cylinder-and-piston combinations 57 thus rotates the rocker assembly 17 about the axle 42.

In order to facilitate the quick and simple replacement of wringer rolls, replaceable roll frames 68 are provided. In FIG. 1, three roll frames 68 are shown, one of these being inserted in place upon the second pair of rails,

another being shown preparatory to insertion upon the third pair of rails, the last being shown broken-away and aligned with the first pair of rails.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, each roll frame 68 includes two elongated members 70, which are preferably L- beams arranged such that one flange 71 of each extends outwardly away from the other. In each roll frame 68, two bearing members 72 extend between the elongated members 70, at either end thereof. Supported for free rotation between the bearing members 72 is a wringer roll 74 of conventional construction. It is to be noted that the wringer roll 74 is wholly to one side of the plane common to the two flanges 71 of each roll frame 68. More importantly, it will be noted that the wringer roll 74 has at least a portion thereof extending clear of the elongated members 70. In the case of the roll frames 68 nearest to the viewer in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the wringer roll 74 projects upwardly beyond the elongated members 70.

The roll frame 68 are adapted to be inserted into the apparatus of FIG. 1 by sliding longitudinally of the pairs of horizontal rails. In the case of the third pair of horizontal rails, attached to the rocker assembly 17, the roll frame 68a is first oriented with the wringer roll 74 uppermost, as shown in FIG. 1, and then is slid longitudinally of the horizontal rails (rails 50 and 51 in this instance) with the flanges 71 bearing against the upper surface of the rails. Once in position, the roll frame 68a is secured to the rails 50 and 51 by means of suitable fastening devices inserted through apertures 76 in flanges 71 and apertures 78 in the horizontal rails. Some or all of the apertures 76 and 78 may be threaded for this purpose. In FIG. 1, a roll frame is shown installed and secured against the fourth pair of horizontal rails 52 and 53, the flanges 71 being fastened by bolts 80 to the horizontal rails 52 and 53.

In order to mount a roll frame 68 on either the first or second pair of horizontal rails, the roll frame is first inverted with the wringer roll 74 downward as shown with the roll frame 68b in FIG. 1, and then the roll frame is slid longitudinally of the horizontal rails (rails 32 and 39 in this instance), with the flanges 71 running along the top surface of the rails 32 and 39. Once the roll frame is in position, fastening means are inserted through apertures 76 in the flanges 71 and apertures 78 in the horizontal rails, in order to secure the roll frame in position. In FIG. 1, a roll frame is shown secured to the second pair of horizontal rails 40 and 34, with bolts 80 serving to secure the roll frame in the desired position.

In the case of the first and second pairs of horizontal rails, which receive roll frames 68 in an inverted position, lateral side-slip of the roll frame during insertion is prevented because the elongated members 70 include vertical flanges 81 which project downwardly between the pair of horizontal rails.

In the case of the third and fourth pairs of horizontal rails, side-slip of the roll frames 68 is prevented in one direction by the bars 55 described above, and in the other direction by the stem-members 48 against which the inner horizontal rails 51 and 52 are positioned.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the operation of the apparatus according to this invention will be described.

In FIG. 2, the operation of the apparatus according to this invention will be described.

In FIG. 2, steel strip 82 is shown undergoing a liquidimmersion bath 84 on a continuous-run basis. The liquid-immersion bath 84 includes a container 85, supporting means 86 of conventional nature, a liquid 87 to a level 89, and guide rollers adapted for free rotation with a portion thereof immersed beneath the level 89 of the liquid 87. As shown, the steel strip 82 passes beneath the surface of the liquid 87 between the two guide rollers at the right-hand end of the container 85, and passes out of the liquid 87 between the remaining two guide rollers. After it ceases to contact the furthest leftward guide roller 90, the steel strip 82 retain on its surface a certain amount of the liquid 87 which it is desirable either to substantially remove, or to distribute evenly over the surface to provide a uniform coating on the steel strip 82. It is this function that the apparatus of FIG. 1 fulfils. This apparatus, shown in elevation at in FIG. 2, is positioned such that the steel strip 82 emerging from its contact with the liquid 87 and the guide rollers 90, can pass in a substantially horizontal plane just beneath or lightIy touching the first and second wringer rolls 74d and 74c.

In order that the liquid 87 can be wrung from, or distributed evenl yover, the surface of the steel strip 82, the rocker assembly 17 is swung to the position shown in FIG. 2, in which the fourth wringer roll 74d is urged against the second wringer roll 74c. 'Ihe rocker assembly 17 is urged toward the position shown in FIG. 2 by energizing the cylinder-and-piston combinations 57 so that the rods 59 move outwardly to the left away from the cylinders 58. It is preferably to use compressed air to operate the cylinder-and-piston combinations 57, because this permits a more resilient retention of the rocker assembly 17 in the position shown in FIG. 2, and because the nip between the wringer rolls 74c and 74d can be more accurately controlled.

The rocker assembly 17 is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 2, while the steel strip 82 is run continuously therethrough, until the point is reached where one or both of the wringer rolls 74c and 74d begins to show signs of wear in the cylindrical surface. This wear usually shows up as a slight annular ledge around the outer surface of the wringer roll at an axial position aligned with the lateral edges of the steel strip 82. Prior to this manifestation of wear on one or both of the wringer rolls 74c and 74d, fresh wringer rolls 74a and 74b have been installed on the first and third pair of horizontal rails, so that when the wringer rolls 74c and 74d become worn, the rocker assembly 17 can be rotated in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 by retracting the rods 59 of the cylinder-and-piston combinations 57, until the wringer roll 74a comes up against the wringer roll 74b. When the wringer rolls 74a and 74b are resiliently urged together with the strip 82 passing between them, the wringer rolls 74c and 74d are separated and ideally out of contact with the steel strip 82, except possibly for a light contact against the upper wringer roll 740. Thus, with the rocker assembly 17 in its furthest clockwise position, the roll frames 68c and 68d can be unfastened from their respective horizontal rails, slid longitudinally out of the assembly 10, and repaired by replacing the wringer rolls 74c and 74d with new wringer rolls. When the wringer rolls 74c and 74d have been replaced, the roll frames 68c and 68d are reinserted along their respective horizontal rails and are once more secured in place against the horizontal rails. When this has been accomplished, the rocker assembly 17 is ready to be rotated back to the position shown in FIG. 10, as soon as one or both of the wringer rolls 74a and 74b shows signs of wear. When this occurs, the rods 59 of the cylinder-and-piston combinations 57 are once more extended to rotate the rocker assembly 17 to the position shown in FIG. 2, whereupon the worn wringer rolls 74a and 7411 are replaced in the same manner as was done for the wringer rolls 74c and 74d. This alternating process continues ad infinitum, and it will be seen that there is no necessity to shut down the processing line in order to replace wringer rolls in the assembly 10. At most, only a very short length of the steel strip 82 will pass through the assembly 10 during the brief time which elapses while the rocker assembly 17 is being swung from one position to the other.

As shown in FIG. 2, a catch basin 92 is provided beneath the wringer rolls to receive any excess liquid removed from the steel strip 82 by the wringer rolls, Means (not shown) are provided to return this excess liquid to the container 85.

What I claim is:

1. Wringer roll apparatus for a strip processing line, comprising:

a supporting framework,

a first and a second wringer roll removably secured to said supporting framework in substantially parallel, spaced relation, the first and second rolls being mounted for free rotation,

a rocker assembly mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the supporting framework about a rocker axis parallel with the said axes, and having removably secured thereto a third and a fourth wringer roll,

the rocker assembly being swingable between a first position in which the first and third wringer rolls are in line contact and the second and fourth wringer rolls are spaced apart, and a second position in which the second and fourth wringer rolls are in line contact and the first and third wringer rolls are spaced apart,

and means for swinging said rocker assembly between said first and second positions.

2. The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the means for swinging said rocker assembly comprises a fluid-operated cylinder extensible and rectractable as between its two ends, one of its two ends being pivoted to said supporting framework, the other of its two ends being pivoted to the rocker assembly at a location spaced from said rocker axis.

3. The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the wringer rolls are substantially identical and are mounted on substantially identical roll frames removably securable to both the supporting framework and the rocker assembly.

4. Wringer roll apparatus for a strip processing line, comprising:

a supporting framework,

a rock assembly mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the supporting framework about a substantially horizontal rocker axis,

the framework including a first and a second pair of parallel, substantially horizontal rails, said pairs being on opposite sides of said rocker axis,

the rocker assembly including a third and a fourth pair of parallel substantially horizontal rails arranged generally beneath said first and second pair of rails,

four rigid, roll frames, each including two parallel elongated members adapted to be removably secured to a pair of rails, and each including a wringer roll and and bearing means supporting the wringer roll for free rotation about a roll axis fixed with respect to its respective elongated members,

the rocker assembly being swingable about said rocker axis between a first position in which the wringer rolls of the roll frames secured to the first and third pairs of rails are in line contact, and a second position in which the wringer rolls of the roll frames secured to the second and fourth pairs of rails are in line contact,

and means for swinging said rocker assembly between said first and second positions.

5. The invention claimed in claim 4, in which the rocker assembly comprises two inverted T-members each including a lower cross-member secured to an upwardly projecting stem-member, said third and fourth pairs of rails extending substantially normally between the two lower cross-members and secured thereto, the rocker assembly being pivoted about said rocker axis at similar points along the two stem-members, and in which the means for swinging said rocker assembly comprises a fluid-operated cylinder and piston combination of which one end is pivoted to the supporting framework and the other end is pivoted to one stem-member at a location remote from the rocker axis.

6. The invention claimed in claim 5, in which each elongated member of a roll frame has a flange extending outwardly away from the other elongated member of the same roll frame, the flanges being spaced apart such that they can ride along the top surface of a pair of rails, each rail and each flange having aperture means through which a flange can be secured to a rail.

7. The invention claimed in claim 5, in which the cylinder and piston combination is air-operated.

8. The invention claimed in claim 5, which further includes drain means under the rocker assembly to drain 01f any liquid falling from the wringer rolls.

9. The invention claimed in claim 6, in which each pair of rails of the rocker assembly has upwardly projecting stop means along the outer boundary of the top surface of each rail, thereby to permit a roll frame to be slid longitudinally onto a pair of rails without risk of lateral slippage.

10. A method of wringing from metal strip excess liquid retained on the strip after passage through a liquid bath in a processing line, said method comprising the steps:

providing a framework to which are removably secured first and second parallel spaced-apart wringer rolls freely rotatable about roll axes, and a rocker as sembly pivotally mounted on the framework about a substantially horizontal rocker axis substantially parallel with said roll axes, the rocker assembly having removably secured thereto third and fourth wringer rolls freely rotatable about roll axes, the rocker as sembly being swingable between a first position in which the first and third wringer rolls are in line contact and the second and third wringer rolls are spaced apart, and a second position in which the second and fourth wringer rolls are in line contact and the first and third wringer rolls are spaced apart,

passing the strip continuously between the first and third wringer rolls and between the second and fourth wringer rolls,

swinging the rocker assembly to said first position so that the strip passes between the nip of said first and 8 third wringer rolls, and maintaining the rocker assembly in said first position until at least one of said first and third wringer rolls requires replacement due to wear,

swinging the rocker assembly to said second position so that the strip passes between the nip of said second and third wringer rolls,

efiecting the required replacement for the first and third wringer rolls,

maintaining the rocker assembly in said second position until at least one of said second and third wringer rolls requires replacement due to wear,

and swinging the rocker assembly back to said first position.

11. The invention claimed in claim 10, in which the steps of swinging and maintaining the rocker assembly are accomplished by providing a cylinder and piston combination pivotally secured between the framework and a point on the rocker assembly remote from the rocker axis, and operating said combination by air under pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,169,096 1/1916 Thornton 94 1,191,537 7/1916 Schall 118--203 1,846,547 2/1932 Ferneding 1 18-117 2,566,796 9/1951 Erhardt, Jr. 118----104 2,968,279 1/ 1961 Peterson 118--413 X 3,070,461 12/1962 Beachler 118413 X 3,124,480 3/1964 Mahoney et al. l181l7 X 3,194,210 7/1965 Harris 1l8--l04 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,176,221 8/ 1964 Germany 118-234 MORRIS KAPLAN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 118--l17 

